Diné college to close Kayenta, Ganado campuses

Due to the automatic federal funding cuts and lack of student enrollment, Diné College will be closing its doors at the Ganado and Kayenta branches.

"We get about 85 percent of our money comes from the federal government through the Diné College act and will be taking a huge cut there," said college's president, Maggie George.

In fiscal year 2014, Diné College is facing a $723,000 reduction in funding.

On June 30, the Diné College Board of Regents approved a transition plan that will officially close the Kayenta and Ganado college sites on Aug. 9.

"Over the years the numbers at Ganado and Kayenta have been dwindling," George said adding that at least 10 students must be enrolled for one class to get students' and the college's money's worth.

Courses offered at each site were based off the need of the students, George said and they have looked into several other ways to increase enrollment at both sites.

Officials looked into different ways to offer courses that would be convenient for the students such as online courses, George added.

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"But when your students don't take courses and people don't come to take courses you've got to revamp and say, 'what do we do different?' So that's essentially what we're doing."

For the 2012-2013 school year, the Kayenta site enrolled a total of 60 students, while the Ganado site enrolled 73. Those numbers are low when compared to other sites close by. The Tuba City branch enrolled 560 students and the Window Rock site enrolled 233 students.

"The enrollment was not there," George added.

For the students that were enrolled at each site will still get the help they need to continue their education through Diné College.

The Diné College campuses that will remain open across the Navajo Nation are Shiprock, Crownpoint, Tuba City, Chinle, Window Rock and the main campus in Tsaile.